What We Do

April, 2013

Back in 2008 Amanda Tapping, Damian Kindler, Jill Bodie, and Carole Appleby (our newest board member) set out to form a charitable organization that helped children in crisis around the world. We spent a year researching different not-for profits and meeting with business leaders in an effort to get our project right. We wanted to create an organization that established real relationships with our charities. We wanted to service them in the best way possible and really establish on an ongoing basis what their specific needs were. We didn’t just want to write cheques, we wanted to be a part of the initiatives that they needed to continue their work. We knew that we would be harnessing the tremendous support, generosity and power of Sci-Fi fandom but we had no idea how formidable that power would be.

We launched Sanctuary for Kids in November of 2009 and to date we have now raised over $500,000. To say that we have been overwhelmed would be an understatement. To say that we have been humbled would be an understatement. To say that we are elated would be an understatement. It is amazing what can happen when people work together.

This money has been raised and will continue to be raised by many efforts:

Through the major fundraising events hosted and organized by GABIT in the UK and their incredible team; through periodic online auctions of priceless items and experiences that our Science Fiction fanbase appreciates; through merchandise via our online store; through online donations which this year totalled over $157,000. This last number is important because it includes the people who have run, walked, played music, lost weight, flown out of planes, thrown shotputs, did push ups... in truth there are too many to mention, but these actions have raised money and awareness for us. This last number also includes the many monthly donors who generously, in big and small numbers, give a little each month. It includes those who donate to our winter Bricks and Blocks campaign. It includes those who give money whenever they can. Every dollar has made a difference.

Beyond raising money, we seem to have built a community- of friends first and foremost, and of people who together want to make a difference and have found that that change begins within themselves. People are pushing themselves to be their best selves as they raise this money outlined above. They are making pigrimages to work in Nepal. They are donating to causes within their local communities by being inspired by this virtual one. They are sharing their work with others. This is most inspiring to the four of us.

xox